Shivam Dubey: Leaping from Hardik Pandya’s shadow, one skill at a time | Cricket news

There is no one quite like the right Pandya. But the closest Pandya comes to a perfect fit is Dube.

The numbers are impressive. In 45 T20Is – only one which India lost – he used a batting average of 27.59 and a strike rate of 138.26. Every sixth ball hits the fence. Of the top 10 players in the world, only three have a better strike rate (Pandya, Marcus Stoinis and Nepal’s Dipendra Singh Airey) and only two have a better strike rate (Pandya and Stoinis). In the bowling list, Dubey is ranked 22nd, behind Axar Patel and, surprisingly, Abhishek Sharma. Humble Bowling Figures tells you why. Just 21 wickets in 31 matches.

It’s where the ratings and numbers don’t reflect his comeback as a footballer. As many as 13 of those wickets came in his last 10 ball matches, a wicket in each of the 17 runs he conceded and the 12th ball he bowled. In half of those instances, he bowled three or more overs, demonstrating the team manager’s growing confidence in his bowling skills.

At Wankhede earlier this year, he conjured a delightful seamer to score Phil Salt, England’s T20 boy. On the Gold Coast, his hard-length ball bounced more than Tim David expected, shortly after hitting a wide ball for four. The extra bounce pushed him into a draw. A pervert scammed Sahibzada Farhan in Dubai. All three wickets come down to different dimensions of bowling. It’s a bewildering talent – to look vulgar with one ball and brutal with the next.

One or two players still struggle, but regardless of lack of discipline, he has upgraded his skill set. From the energy in his race, the intensity in his movement to enhanced pace, and a steadier wrist when launching, the improvement in his skills is tangible. It is the fruit of his work in the net, as he admitted during the Asian Cup in Dubai. He rarely missed training sessions, even optional ones, and would throw the ball as long as possible. “I worked on a little bit of advice from the coach and the bowling coach,” he said on the Gold Coast. Like bowling from wide distance and using angles. Like knowing when to bowl slower balls. “Little things,” he would repeat.

What was most striking was his speed. He recorded a speed of mid-130km/h when he took off, before dropping to the mid-120km/h due to injuries. But in the last two series, his balls reached speeds of 130 kilometers per hour, which was an average speed in the early 30s. The ability to throw faster made his slower balls more lethal. He has learned to use these variations sparingly, rather than looking to throw one two or three times at a time. He also added the cutter. He can take the new ball or bowl in the middle. He’s got his nerves off the ball and looks like someone who’s enjoying his game.

He got rid of the fear of getting hit too. “Gauthi bhai told me – ‘You will concede runs, but I want you to express yourself.'” This freedom has changed everything, he said. So he is not afraid of failure or drop-outs. The upgraded bowling repertoire has allowed India to classify him as a true bowler, the third seamer to Jasprit Bumrah and Pandya. Three spin bowlers and two seam bowlers all round. The depth of his multitasking is frightening.

The 32-year-old may not be able to bat as frequently as he once did. In the last 16 games, he has played just 10 times. Half the time he was out at six, once at eight, twice at five, and on the Gold Coast at three. Pitchers call the short ball immediately. While he still jumps on those who launch spears at his body, he spares nothing on the sneak side. When Ben Dwarshuis tested his sneaking skill with a powerful, angled ball wide, he sliced ​​it emphatically behind the point, rode the bounce and spotted the ball beautifully.

His appearances have come in big games. His 33 off 22 balls against Pakistan in the Asia Cup final was pivotal in India lifting the trophy. As was the case for his 53 off 34 balls against England on a slow surface in Pune. More than the sheer weight of runs or wickets, his contributions in difficult stages were invaluable. It’s the gold standard in the shortest form, impact not numbers. Thus, Dube has developed to such a level that even when Pandya returns he can command a space of his own.